Key-cutting machine



J. L. M CLELLAND Feb. 17. 1925.

KEY CUTTING. MACHINE Filed Feb. 25. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR John L. Mc Clelland B y EE e A TTORNE Y:

Feb, 17-. 1925. v 1,526,994

J. L. MOCLELLAND KEY CUTTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John L. McOlelland Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,526,994 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. MGCLELLAND, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SHARP- ENING MACHINE COMPANY,

OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

KEY-CUTTING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. MOCLELLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in key cutting machines.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved key cutting machine which is simple in structure and may be successfully operated by other than skilled mechanics.

A further object is to provide an improved key cutting machine of large capacity and adapted for cutting different types of keys.

Further objects, and objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation of my improvements will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

Y A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. I is a plan view of a structure embodying the features of my invention, a portion of the support on which it is mounted being broken away, the carriage being shown in one position by full lines and in another position by dotted lines.

Fig. II is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. I, the work carriage being shown in operative position by full lines and in inoperative position by dotted lines.

Fig. III is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. I showing details of the supporting means.

.Fig. IV is an enlarged detail section on a line corresponding toline H of Fig. I showing the mounting for one of the tracer fingers.

Fig. V is a detail View partially 111 sectlon on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. IV.

In the drawingthe sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines and similar numerals of referencerefer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a support on which the machine and its driving motor 2 are mounted. It may be a board of suitable size, a bench or the like. The base 3 of the machine is a casting of suitable size and weight to provide stability and properly support the parts thereon. I

The base is provided with upstanding parts 4, 4t and 5, 5 on which are mounted the front and rear carriage slide rods 6 and 6, respectively, these rods being. disposed in the same horizontal plane and in parallel relation. The bearing pedestals 7 are disposed at the rear and centrally of the base and carry the shaft 7 which is provided with a pulley 8 disposed between the pedestals and cutters 9 and 10 disposed at the outsides of the pedestals. The pulley 8 is connected to the motor by the belt 11..

The work carriage 12 is pivotally mounted on the front slide rod 6 and is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm 13 adapted to slidably engage the rear slide rod 6'. The supporting arms 4 for the front slide rods 6 project forwardly from the base so that the rod 6 is supported well to the front thereof allowing the carriage to be tilted as shown by dotted lines in Fig. II. This permits the carriage being adjusted to operative relation to either cutter according to the type of key that is to be out.

On the carriage I slidably mount a work holder 14 the carriage being supported for sliding movement transversely of the cutter shaft and a guide rod 15 being secured to the holder and slidable in the uprights on the carriage. The carriage is supported on ways 17,'see Fig. II. This provides an effective support for the work holder and at the same time permits its being freely reciprocated.

The work holder is provided with rearwardly facing shouldered work rests 18 adapted to receive the work as 19 and the pattern as 20, the work being shown completed in Fig. I. The work and the pattern are clamped upon the rests by means of the clamping plates 21 which are recessed at 22 to receive the work rests and at 23 to engage the shouldered clamp supports 24, the clamping screws 25 being arranged through the clamps and threaded into the work holder.

Coiled springs 26 are seated in the work holder to lift the clamps when the clamp ing screws are retracted. Tracer fingers 27 are adjustabl mounted on the uprights or arms 28 carried by the rear slide rod 6, these tracer lingers being adapted to follow the conformations of the pattern thereby controlling the movement of the work holder, the work holder and carriage being manually manipulated.

The tracer fingers are adjustably secured by means of the clamping screws 29 having thumb nuts 30.

Machines embodying my invention are of large capacity and the work is accurate. As stated, it does not require skilled workmen to operate the 'machines.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the-class described, the combination with a base provided with a pair of bearing pedestals, front and rear carriage slide rods mounted on said base in parallelrelation, the rear slide rod being arranged through said bearing pedestals, a cutter shaft mounted on said bearing pedestals above saidrear slide rod and provided with a pair of cutters disposed at the outer sides of the pedestals and with a pulley disposed between them, a carriage pivotally mounted on the frontslide rod and provided with a rearwardly projecting arm adapted to slidably engage the rear slide rod whereby said carriage is supported for tilting and sliding movement permitting its ad justment into operative relation to either cutter, a Work holder mounted onsaid carriage for sliding movement and adapted to support the wor: and a pattern, and tracer fingers mounted on said rear slide rod to eoact-with a pattern carried by said work holder.

2. In a structure of the class described the combination with a base, front and rear carriage slide rods mounted on said base in parallel relation, a cutter shaft proviced with a pair of cutters, a carriage pivotally mounted on the front slide rod and provided with a rearwardly projecting arm adapted to slidably engage the rear slide rod whereby said carriage is supported for tilting and sliding movement permitting its adjustment into operative relation to either cutter, a work and pattern holder slidably mounted on saidcarriage for movement transversely of said slide rods'and provided with a guide rod slidably engaging said carriage, rearwardly facing shouldered rests and for wardly facing shouldered clamp supports on said carriage, clamping plates having recesses on their under sides loosely engaging said rests'and supports, clamping screws arranged between said rests and supports, springs seated in said rest to lift said clamps when said screws are retracted, and adjustably mounted tracer fingersadapted to coact with a pattern clamped on one of said work rests.

3. in a structure of the class described, the combination with a base, front and rear carriage slide rods mounted on said base in parallel relation, a cutter shaft provided with a pair of cutters, a carriage pivotally mounted on the slide rod and providedwith a rearwardly projecting arm adapted to slidably engage the rear siide rod whereby said carriage is supported for tilting and sliding movement permitting its adjustment into operative relation to either cutter, a work and pattern holder slidably mounted on said carriage for movement transversely of said slide rods and provided with a guide rod slidably engaging said carriage, rearwardly facing shouldered rests and forwardly facing shouldered clamp supports on said carriage, clamping plates having recesses on their under sides loosely engaging said rests and supports, clamping screws arranged between said rests and supports, springs seated in said rests to lift said clamps when said screws are retracted, and tracer finger adapted to c-oact with the pattern carried by said work holder.

at. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a base, front and rear carriage slide rods mounted on said base in parallel relation, a carriage pivotally mounted on the front slide rod and provided with a rearwardly projecting arm adapted to slidably engage the rear slide rod whereby said carriage is supported for tilting and sliding movement, a work holder slidably mounted on said carriage for movement transversely ofsaid slide rods-and provided with a guide rod slidably engaging said carriage, rearwardly facing shouldered rests and forwardly facing shouldered clamp supports on said carriage, clamping plates having recesses on their under sides loosely engaging said rests-and supports, clamping screws arranged between said rests and supports, springs seated in said rests to lift said clamps when said screws are retracted, and a tracer linger adapted to coa-ct with a pat tern clamped on one of said work rests.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a base, of a rotary cutter, front and rear carriage slide rods mounted on said base in parallel relation to each other and to the axis of said cutter, a carriage pivotally mounted on the front slide rod and provided with a rearwardly projecting arm adapted to slidably engage the rear slide rod whereby said carriage is supported for tilting and sliding movement, a work holder slidably mounted on said carriage for movement transversely of said slide rods, and a tracer finger adapted to coact with a. pattern carried by said work holder.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a pair of spaced rotary cutters, 'a carriage mounted for sliding movement in a plane parallelwith the axis of the cutters and for tilting adjustment whereby it may be tilted to clear the cutters adjusted into operative relation to either cutter, a Work holder mounted on said carriage for reciprocating movement transversely of the path of travel of said carriage, said Work holder being provided with work and pattern supporting means, and tracer members operatively associated with a pattern carried by said work holder when the carriage is in operative position.

7. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a cutter, a carriage supported for sliding and tilting movement, a

Work holder slidably mounted on said carriage for movement transversely of the axis of said cutter, said carriage being provided with transverse slide ways for said work holder, said work holder having a guide rod slidably engaging the carriage, work and pattern rests on said carriage, and a tracer finger adapted to coact with a pattern carried by one of said rests.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a cutter, a carriage sup ported for sliding and tilting movement, a Work holder slidably mounted on said carriage for movement transversely of the axis of said cutter, work and pattern rests on said carriage, and a tracer finger adapted to coact with a pattern carried by one of said rests.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN L. MoCLELLAND. [1 s] 

